The fourth annual Belleville Caribbean Festival has been granted a last-minute reprieve by the city to stave off a small, but notable, financial shortfall only days before the event this weekend.

City council voted 6-2 in favour of approving a request by Coun. Sean Kelly, co-chair of the festival, on Monday for the municipality to provide $5,500 in kind staff support as well as to waive the $940 rental fee for Friday night’s initial event at Victoria Park.

Recommended Videos

Unexpected costs to install fencing and safety barriers proved more formidable than expected now that the festival has grown from a one-day event to several days this Friday through Sunday. The in-kind funding will see municipal staff set up needed event site amenities to keep attendees safe.

Kelly acknowledged fes

See Full Page